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Thursday, April 26, 2012

4x6 Trade

I was tempted by the thought of Arthouse Coop's 4x6 exchange project but dissuaded by the necessity to have a US stamp on the envelope. While I was asking Twitter what they thought, Marcus at Lucky Jack Press offered a personal trade. I took Marcus up on his offer and quickly got to work.


After some hemming and hawing, starts and stops, I decided to create a self-portrait. I used some of the handmade watercolour paper I received from Jill and started with a wash of green, grey and black in the background. I penciled in my head using my sketchbook page as a reference. I cut the face out and created three, two-sided inserts. I used magazine clippings, illustrations, origami paper and stickers. Each side represents a memory or event.




I put tabs on each insert after realizing it wasn't very easy to get each one in and out.


Marcus replied with fold-out 4x6 card representing elements of his surroundings in the Yukon. A mixed media polar bear with a stoic gaze appears on one side while the inside's colours are reminiscent of a Yellowknife sunset.


The other side held a photo of the northern lights. It took me a little time to recall where I was when I saw them in person. With a little help from my mother, I was able to recall that it was likely on a camping trip in northern or central Saskatchewan. Away from the city lights where the stars are piercingly bright and the gentle waves of aurora borealis can be seen dancing across the sky. It's really magical.


A Baker Lake art postcard was also included with a message that conveyed a longing for spring. I think all Canadians are feeling the same way, no matter how mild or harsh the winter.

Marcus had been teasing me with hints of the story of Sedna. While this initial trade didn't have any Sedna illustrations, I'm pleased to read that our trade will continue and perhaps Sedna will appear one of these days.

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14 comments:

  1. i love when my friends make friends with each other. beautiful trade you guys. so personal. i see a lot of both of you in your creations. looking forward to peering in on future exchanges between you two.

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  2. Awesome idea, Jeannine! Glad you came up with a cheaper alternative to the international reply coupon. What a rip-off!

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  3. Two very creative and visually exciting pieces. I agree with Belinda that your idea to trade locally was an excellent solution to the stamp problem. Hope you will continue to share the visuals from further trades!

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  4. Fantastic idea jeannine I really love it!!

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  5. Thanks, Jessica! It was a lot of fun and I'm working on a reply right now.

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  6. I know, Belinda! $5 for a stamp that should be less than a dollar was nearly criminal. After I'd agreed to this 4x6 exchange a lovely friend offered to mail me a stamp from the US.

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  7. Thank you, Barbara. I am working on a reply right now and will definitely be sharing my future trades.

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  8. Thank you, Kelly!

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  9. Ah, it's this sort of creative inspiration that I am always rewarded with when I visit your blog! I've been trapped in a barrel of work and only just emerged... and I realize just how much I've missed you. I love this changeable self-portrait so much. The concept is beautiful and how fun to change the memory with the little tabbed card. Thank you for brightening my day with this simple yet lovely idea! :)

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  10. Such a clever idea with the changing pattern face and that polar bear illustration is bloody fantastic.

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  11. I loved seeing all of the beautiful goodies you have exchanged lately. I'll be sending one your way before too much longer. You've seen the Northern Lights?!!! Wow. It's a dream of mine. I even have a tattoo resembling it/them with stars inside the purple and green swirls.

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  12. Wow, thank you Kimi! I have missed you as well and need to get caught up on your blog. I 'store' all my favourite blogs on Google reader and get caught up every few weeks. Since spring arrived, it seems as thought I catch up every few months - yikes!

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  13. Thanks, Carol! I have seen the Northern lights and like the ungrateful teen or preteen I was, I didn't give it much thought or regard. Now I'm happy to say I've seen them but wish I could see them again with more appreciation... which comes with age and maturity. :-)

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